The Saints (19-7, 15-5) finished on top, tied with Barton, for the first time since joining the Division II league. They did win the tournament two years ago. Postseason games are played at the sites of the higher seeds, giving No. 2 Limestone at least a couple of potential games at the Timken Center.

Seventh-seed Mount Olive (14-12, 11-9) will come to Gaffney for a first-round game at 7 p.m. today. Limestone, according to head coach Brandon Scott, shouldn't be considered a heavy favorite as might be expected.

“You would think that a quarterfinal game at home would be, if not a no-brainer, at least a pretty sure win,” Scott said. “But it just isn't. … I feel great about where we are, but this league is just so even. All the games are going to feel like championships.”

Limestone has won five straight, including an 82-68 win in the middle at home against Mount Olive. But the Trojans easily handled the Saints, 99-78, in late January. Mount Olive, in its regular-season finale, fell only eight points short at No. 1 seed Barton.

“Three weeks ago, everybody was saying Mount Olive was the best team in our league,” Scott said. “Now we have to play them in a first-round game. Mount Olive is a very, very good team. We won here against them, but they beat us up. It's going to be an incredibly physical game and a great challenge for us.”

The Saints are led in scoring by Charles Blue, who averages 16.4 points to go with 8.3 rebounds. Joe Raga averages nearly a double-double, 9.1 points and rebounds, also leading the team with 95 assists. Mike Barrett scores 11.8 points per game and P.J. Foster scores 11.2. Phillip Moultrie scores 9.0 and pulls down 6.7 rebounds a game.

Limestone has won eight of nine games, the only loss by five points at Barton, since a three-game losing streak at the end of January. But even during that slide, Scott said, the Saints were not slumping.

“We were on the road,” he said. “We lost at the buzzer to Belmont Abbey, lost at King after being at the line in a one-point game with 8 seconds left, and then we lost that game at Mount Olive. It wasn't like we were playing badly. We just hit a tough stretch. … We've been very consistent this season. We've played really well.”

With a victory, Limestone would play host to a semifinal showdown at 7 p.m. Thursday and then, if seeds hold, would play at Barton in the championship game Saturday night.

<p>Even at home, this Conference Carolinas tournament will be no easy task for regular season co-champion Limestone.</p><p>The Saints (19-7, 15-5) finished on top, tied with Barton, for the first time since joining the Division II league. They did win the tournament two years ago. Postseason games are played at the sites of the higher seeds, giving No. 2 Limestone at least a couple of potential games at the Timken Center.</p><p>Seventh-seed Mount Olive (14-12, 11-9) will come to Gaffney for a first-round game at 7 p.m. today. Limestone, according to head coach Brandon Scott, shouldn't be considered a heavy favorite as might be expected.</p><p>“You would think that a quarterfinal game at home would be, if not a no-brainer, at least a pretty sure win,” Scott said. “But it just isn't. … I feel great about where we are, but this league is just so even. All the games are going to feel like championships.”</p><p>Limestone has won five straight, including an 82-68 win in the middle at home against Mount Olive. But the Trojans easily handled the Saints, 99-78, in late January. Mount Olive, in its regular-season finale, fell only eight points short at No. 1 seed Barton.</p><p>“Three weeks ago, everybody was saying Mount Olive was the best team in our league,” Scott said. “Now we have to play them in a first-round game. Mount Olive is a very, very good team. We won here against them, but they beat us up. It's going to be an incredibly physical game and a great challenge for us.”</p><p>The Saints are led in scoring by Charles Blue, who averages 16.4 points to go with 8.3 rebounds. Joe Raga averages nearly a double-double, 9.1 points and rebounds, also leading the team with 95 assists. Mike Barrett scores 11.8 points per game and P.J. Foster scores 11.2. Phillip Moultrie scores 9.0 and pulls down 6.7 rebounds a game.</p><p>Limestone has won eight of nine games, the only loss by five points at Barton, since a three-game losing streak at the end of January. But even during that slide, Scott said, the Saints were not slumping. </p><p>“We were on the road,” he said. “We lost at the buzzer to Belmont Abbey, lost at King after being at the line in a one-point game with 8 seconds left, and then we lost that game at Mount Olive. It wasn't like we were playing badly. We just hit a tough stretch. … We've been very consistent this season. We've played really well.”</p><p>With a victory, Limestone would play host to a semifinal showdown at 7 p.m. Thursday and then, if seeds hold, would play at Barton in the championship game Saturday night.</p>